Trolling device for reducing the effectiveness of a propeller



Nov. 24, 1964 w. M. GEWIN 3,158,125

TROLLING DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROPELLER Filed Sept. 29, 1961 INI E ToR: WILL/HM M. GEN/N,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,153,126 TRDLLiNG BEVICE FUR REBUUWG THE EFFECTIVENESS @F A FRGPELLER William Ivi. Gewin, fill N. th St, Dupe, Ill. Filed Sept. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 141,713 5 Claims. ill. IMP-I45) The present invention relates generally to the motor boat art. More particularly, it comprises a novel trolling device for use with outboard motors, or the like.

The present invention is an improvement on the trolling device disclosed in the applicants United States Letters Patent No. 2,914,019. As is stated in said patent, it has been well known for a long time that two-cycle outboard motors, or the like, quickly foul the spark plugs and the water pump does not supply sufficient water to keep the motor cool when operated at idling speeds, such as that required for trolling purposes. Various means have been resorted to for overcoming this deficiency, one of which is generally known as a trolling device which operates to reduce the effectiveness of the propeller of the outboard motor. For many reasons, trolling devices offered for use up to the time of the trolling device of the abovementioned patent failed to solve the many ramifications of the problem involved, and were not commercially acceptable. The trolling device of said patent is a practical solution of the trolling problem, but the present improved unit is another step forward in the concerned art.

In brief, the instant novel trolling device comprises a mounting bracket having opposed vertically spaced slots and a baffle plate for disposition adjacent the propeller of the outboard motor having spaced arms for selective connection with the mounting plate.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which overcomes the disadvantages existing in devices heretofore devised by others, and which is an improvernent on the trolling device disclosed in the aboveidentified patent.

Another object is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which positively reduces the effective speed of the boat without the requirement of closing the throttle of the motor to idling speed.

Another object is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which may be readily secured to the transom of a boat in position for cooperative use with an outboard motor, or the like, which is adjustable vertically to permit use with outboard motors of different sizes.

Another object is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which incorporates a baffle plate or water divertive plate that, in a matter of seconds, can be adjusted vertically or removed for disposition in the boat for cruising.

Another object is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, or the like, which will adjust itself to operative position in relation to the propeller when in use.

Another object is to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which permits the outboard motor to be operated at speeds fast enough to prevent vibration of the motor and boat, failure of the motor due to fouled plugs, overheating of the motor, weed fouling of the propeller, and wind drift, yet SlOWs the eifectiveness of the propeller to permit trolling, and the like.

Other objects are to provide a novel trolling device for outboard motors, and the like, which is highly effective in its intended use, yet is inexpensive and durable, which requires small storage space, and which can be used with minimum instruction or installation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view hf the mounting bracket forming part of the present novel trolling device;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of said mounting bracket;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of said mounting bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the baffle plate or water diverter plate of the present trolling device;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of said baffle Dlate;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken on substantially the line 66 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view through the end of one of the arms of the bafile plate, illustrating the bracket-engaging button in side elevation;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of the rear of a small boat showing the present novel trolling device mounted thereon, an outboard motor being shown in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the rear portion of a small boat illustrating the present novel trolling device mounted thereon, the propeller, propeller shaft casing and a portion of an outboard motor being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, It) indicates generally a trolling device constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. The trolling device it? comprises a mounting plate 12 and a baffle plate or water diverter plate 14.

The mounting plate 12 is of the configuration clearly shown in the drawing and includes a base portion 16, a top flange l8, and opposed side flange 2t) which are oppositely directed from the flange 18. The flanges 20 in clude spaced keyhole slots 22. A small aperture 24 is provided in the top flange 18 through which a safety string may be tied or through which a small tack 26 may 'be disposed, if desired, as is shown in FIGURES 8 clear from FIGURE 6. Mounting arms 32 are secured in opposed relation to the plate 30 by rivets 34. At the free end of each mounting arm 32 is a mounting button 36 having a head 38 and a neck 44 It will be noted that the mounting arms 32 are formed of resilient metal straps twisted to provide for movement of the buttons 36 towards and away from each other, as is clear from FIGURES 4 and 8. The opposed mounting buttons 36 are inserted through selected keyhole slots 22 so that the necks 40 thereof slide down into the narrow portions of the keyhole slots 22, thereby permitting the plate 30 to float freely from the pivotal connections thus provided.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 the present trolling device In is shown mounted upon the transom 44 of a boat 46. The mounting bracket 12 is disposed to fit under the mounting bracket 47 of an outboard motor 48 shown in dotted lines. The baffle plate 14 swings freely from the mounting plate 12 so that the plate 34} is disposed against the forward portion of the propeller 5'4 when the trolling device 10 is in operative position.

It is manifest that the baflie plate 14 can be removed from the position of FIGURE 9 and replaced in another pair of keyhole slots or be placed in the bottom of the boat in a matter of a few seconds. It is also clear that the baffle plate 14, when in the position of FIGURE 9, will divert water from the propeller 5t), thereby reducing and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a trolling device for outboard motors comprising a mounting bracket, spaced opposed flanges extending rearwardly from said mounting bracket, opposed keyhole slots in said flanges, a Water diverter plate, spaced opposed arms extending from said water diverter plate, and a mounting button at the free end of each arm, said buttons being disposed in selected slots freely suspending said water diverter plate from said mounting bracket.

2. In combination, a trolling device for outboard motors comprising a mounting bracket, spaced opposed flanges extending rearwardly from said mounting bracket, opposed keyhole slots in said flanges, a Water diverter plate, spaced opposed arms extending from said water diverter plate, and a mounting button at the free end of each arm, said buttons being disposed in selected slots suspending said water diverter plate from said mounting bracket, said arms being resilient and being closer together at the ends than said spaced flanges of said mounting bracket.

3. In combination, a trolling device for outboard motors comprising a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket including opposed rearwardly extending flanges, having spaced keyhole slots therein, and a water diverter plate, said Water diverter plate including means engaging said keyhole slots in said flanges in pivotal relation freely suspending said diverter plate.

4. In combination, a trolling device for outboard motors comprising a mounting bracket conformed for mounting on the rear of a small boat, spaced opposed flanges extending outwardly from said mounting bracket, a plurality of opposed openings in said flanges, a water diverter plate, spaced opposed arms extending from said Water diverter plate, and mounting means at the free end of each arm, said mounting means being removably disposed in a selected pair of opposed openings and freely suspending said diverter plate from said mounting bracket.

5. In combination, a trolling device for outboard motors comprising a mounting bracket conformed for mounting on the rear of a small boat, spaced opposed flanges extending outwardly from said mounting bracket, a plurality of opposed openings in said flanges, a water diverter plate, spaced opposed arms extending from said Water diverter plate, and mounting means at the free end of each arm, said mounting means being removably disposed in a selected pair of opposed openings and freely suspending said diverter plate from said mounting bracket, said arms being of resilient material and being biased laterally in respect to said openings to maintain said arms in engagement with said flanges.

References titted in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,140 Wendler July 31, 1900 806,677 Keil Dec. 5, 1905 1,880,024 Rinker Sept. 27, 1932 2,174,465 Jedlicka Sept. 26, 1939 2,288,504 Weber June 30, 1942 2,757,013 Brier July 31, 1956 2,914,019 Gewin Nov. 24, 1959 2,984,203 Canning May 16, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION, A TROLLING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS COMPRISING A MOUNTING BRACKET, SPACED OPPOSED FLANGES EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID MOUNTING BRACKET, OPPOSED KEYHOLE SLOTS IN SAID FLANGES, A WATER DIVERTER PLATE, SPACED OPPOSED ARMS EXTENDING FROM SAID WATER DIVERTER PLATE, AND A MOUNTING BUTTON AT THE FREE END OF EACH ARM, SAID BUTTONS BEING DISPOSED IN SELECTED SLOTS FREELY SUSPENDING SAID WATER DIVERTER PLATE FROM SAID MOUNTING BRACKET. 